Authors and adherents of the Bible consider the city of Bethlehem, located a few kilometers south of Jerusalem, to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Being one of the oldest cities in the world, Bethlehem was founded around the 17th century BC. At first the Canaanites lived there, and later the Jews.

Modern Bethlehem is predominantly inhabited by Palestinians, but the city's Christian community is one of the oldest in the world.

Scientists find it difficult to pin down the exact date of Jesus. Protestants believe that Christ was born, and Orthodox Christians celebrate his birth on the night of January 6-7. Almost immediately after his birth, Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Egypt for a while. Jesus spent the bulk of his life in Nazareth, located north of Jerusalem.

Mary, the mother of Christ, and her husband Joseph were residents of Nazareth, a small village in Galilee. These lands were once conquered by the Romans. And so the ruler of Rome, Augustus, once ordered a census of the population in the lands under his control. Every Jew was ordered to appear in his hometown and enroll there.

Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem, where all the representatives of their family were assigned. The city was filled with people, so the wanderers could not find shelter in it. The day was approaching evening when Joseph and Mary, who was expecting a child, found a cave where local shepherds hid their cattle during inclement times. That night, in this cave, a child was born, who was destined to become the ruler of human thoughts for the next two millennia.

Modern Bethlehem

Today Bethlehem is a small town, which, however, occupies a special place on the world map. The city is located on the slopes of low rocky hills near Jerusalem. There are always many pilgrims here who want to see with their own eyes the birthplace of the Savior and worship the holy places.

The birthday of Christ is celebrated in Bethlehem very magnificently and is considered one of the main holidays.

Olive trees, cypresses, and date palms grow in the suburban fields. Some trees are so old that they could well have been silent witnesses to the birth of Jesus Christ. Under the scorching rays of the sun, as in those ancient times, herds of goats and sheep graze. This gives the local landscape a unique look, well described in the Bible.

Historical research and archaeological excavations were actively carried out in these historical places at different times. In the vicinity of Bethlehem, researchers discovered the remains of religious buildings, religious objects and household utensils of those peoples who lived on the land holy to every Christian many centuries ago. Local residents love their city very much and are rightfully proud of its history. After all, it was here that the legend of who was destined to save humanity was born.

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Tip 2: What is more important for humanity: the birth of Jesus Christ or his death

The question of what is more important for humanity is the birth or death of Jesus Christ is not correct. First of all, it is necessary to talk not only about the importance of New Testament events for humanity, but, above all, about the purpose of the historical New Testament events in the life of Christ.

The very moment of the Incarnation was necessary for the salvation of all people, the reconciliation of man and God, and deliverance from the power of hell (to which all people fell until the death of the Savior). Christ incarnates to give the opportunity to regain the opportunity to be with God after death.

There is no need to speak separately about the birth of Christ and his death. All this is aimed at one action - saving a person. Although, in Orthodox dogmatic textbooks one can find information that the salvation of man occurred through the death on the cross of the second Person of the Holy Trinity. This is really so - through the death of God, a person gains the opportunity of eternal life with the Lord after his death. However, if there were no very fact of birth (the incarnation of Christ), we would not be talking about the sacrifice of the cross.

Now we can talk about the importance of the very incarnation (birth) of Jesus Christ from the other side. God Himself takes on the human body, and human nature is hypostasized in the single hypostasis of the second Person of the Trinity. The human being is sanctified, made. This also needs to be taken into account when we talk about the birth of Christ. One of the saints of the ancient Christian Church said that God became man in order for man to become God. Of course, a person cannot have a divine nature (being), but he can become “God” by grace.

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In the Old Testament prophecies, the specific birthplace of the Messiah, the Savior of the world, was predicted - Bethlehem in Judea. From the Gospel we know that this is what happened - it was in this city that Jesus Christ was born. The prophecy was fulfilled contrary to the natural course of events - after all, the Mother of God Mary lived with her Betrothed, Elder Joseph, in Nazareth, one hundred and sixty kilometers from Bethlehem. The Gospel tells that the Mother of God was forced to set off on the eve of giving birth by the decree of the Roman Emperor Augustus to conduct a census of the population, as the Bible says, “throughout the whole earth.” The Jews traced their genealogy by tribe - that is, by belonging to one of the twelve Israeli clans, and each tribe corresponded to a certain territory. And since Mary and Joseph came from the family of King David, they had to take part in the census in the city of David - namely, in Bethlehem.

Apostle Luke in the Gospel indicates that the census, in which the Mother of God and Joseph the Betrothed took part, was “the first during the reign of Quirinius in Syria.” For a long time, skeptics reproached the evangelist with this chronological detail, questioning the very fact of the Birth of Christ in Bethlehem. The fact is that the first-century Jewish historian Josephus, in his book “Jewish Antiquities,” mentions that Publius Sulpicius Quirinius was appointed ruler of Syria, a Roman province that included Judea, after the death of King Herod. While Jesus, according to the Gospel, was born during the reign of this cruel Jewish monarch. That is, it turns out that the population census during the reign of Quirinius took place after the Birth of the Savior. Incredulous historians concluded from this that at the time of Christmas there was no census, and, therefore, the Mother of God had no reason to leave Nazareth for Bethlehem.

William Ramsay, a professor at Oxford and Cambridge universities, historian and archaeologist, tried to resolve the contradiction in 1910.

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As the main argument, the British scientist presented his opponents with a Latin inscription on a stone discovered at excavations near Rome, in the vicinity of the city of Tivoli - ancient Tibur. From this inscription it was clear that Publius Sulpicius Quirinius ruled Syria twice.

Next, continuing his research, William Ramsay analyzes a passage from the Annals of the first century Roman historian Publius Cornelius Tacitus. The chronicler testifies that after the death of Emperor Augustus, his successor Tiberius ordered to provide all the data about what forces the state possessed before his accession to the throne. Having demanded information, the emperor clarified that he needed “information that Augustus rewrote” - that is, obtained as a result of the population census. But the census that Josephus mentions was carried out after the death of Augustus. So there was another one?

Comparing these data, William Ramsay concluded that the census in the Roman Empire was carried out both during the first reign of Quirinius - under King Herod, at the historical moment of the Nativity of Christ, and at the time when the Roman official mentioned by the evangelist was appointed ruler of Syria for the second time. That is why the Apostle Luke not only mentions the census, but clarifies that it was the first under Quirinius.

Another stumbling point for Bible critics was the statement of the Apostle Luke that the census under Quirinius took place “throughout the whole earth.” Is that possible? “Quite!” Answered this question by honorary professor at the Scottish University of Aberdeen, biblical historian Howard Marshall.

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In surviving written sources it was first mentioned around 150. An underground temple has been located here since the time of St. Helena. Belongs .

Christmas place

The birthplace of Christ is marked by a silver star, which is set into the floor and was once gilded and decorated with precious stones.

The star has 14 rays and symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem, inside the circle there is an inscription in Latin:

"Hic de virgine Maria Iesus Christus Natus est"

“Jesus Christ was born here from the Virgin Mary”

Above this star, in a semicircular niche, hang 16 lamps, of which 6 belong to the Orthodox, 6 to the Armenians and 4 to the Catholics.

Behind these lamps, in a semicircle on the wall of a niche, small icons are placed. Two more small glass lamps are simply standing on the floor, right behind the star, against the wall.

Directly above the Nativity site is an Orthodox marble throne.

On this throne, only Orthodox Christians have the right to perform the liturgy.

In front, the throne rests on two small marble columns, and in the niche above it there are small fragments of mosaics.

During times when there is no service, the throne is closed with a special removable grille. Behind the throne on the wall are six small Orthodox icons.

Manger Chapel

In the southern part of the cave, to the left of the entrance, there is a manger chapel.

This is the only part of the cave that is run by Catholics.

It resembles a small chapel, about 2 x 2 m in size, or slightly larger, and its floor level is two steps lower than in the main part of the cave.

In this chapel, to the right of the entrance, is the place of the Manger, where Christ was laid after his birth.

Actually, the Manger is a feeding trough for domestic animals, which was in a cave; the Most Holy Theotokos, of necessity, used it as a cradle.

The interior of the Manger was taken as a great shrine to Rome, to the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, where it is known under the names Sacra culla, Cunambulum or Praesepe.

This was done in the middle of the 7th century, under Pope Theodore I, a few years after the capture, perhaps in order to prevent the desecration of the shrine.

The same part of the Manger that remained in Bethlehem was covered with marble and now represents a recess in the floor, arranged in the form of a cradle, above which five unquenchable lamps burn.

Behind these lamps, against the wall, there is a small image depicting the worship of the Bethlehem shepherds to the Child.

In the chapel of the Manger, to the left of the entrance to it, there is a Catholic altar of the Adoration of the Magi. The altarpiece located here depicts the adoration of the Magi to Christ.

Description of the cave

The cave measures 12.3 x 3.5 m and 3 m in height, that is, it is quite narrow and long, oriented along a west-east line. The Nativity site is located at its eastern end.

Two staircases from the time of Justinian the Great, northern and southern, lead to the cave, each consisting of 15 porphyry steps.

The northern staircase belongs to the Orthodox and Armenians; they are located in the eastern part of the cave, symmetrically on both sides of it.

Usually pilgrims descend along the southern stairs and ascend along the northern one. These entrances acquired their current appearance in the 12th century, when the bronze doors of the 5th-6th centuries. were enclosed in marble portals, and the lunettes above the doors were decorated with stone carvings.

The floor of the cave and the lower part of the walls are decorated with light marble, the rest is draped with fabric or covered with 19th-century trellises, and icons are hung on the walls.

The ceiling is heavily smoked, 32 lamps are suspended on it, and there are 53 of them in the cave, and this number has not changed for a long time.

The cave has no natural light; it is currently illuminated by electricity and, partly, by lamps and candles.

In the western wall of the cave there is a door that leads to the northern part of the system of grottoes located under the basilica, including the grotto where the saint lived. As a rule, this door is locked.

The ancient silver and gilded star was stolen in 1847 (it is unknown by whom, but most likely by the Turks).

This theft became a new reason for mutual grievances between Orthodox Greeks and Catholics and even partially awakened the “question of Holy Places” in 1848.

The star that can be seen now was made according to the exact model of the ancient one and strengthened in 1847 by order of Sultan Abdulmecid I and at his expense.

For the first time, the Nativity Cave was described in Russian at the beginning of the 12th century. , in the essay “The Life and Walk of Abbot Daniel from the Russian Land”:

“And there, to the east, there is a place opposite which on the right is the Manger of Christ. On the western side, under a stone rock, there are the holy Manger of Christ, in which Christ the God was laid, wrapped in rags. He endured everything for our salvation. Those places are close to each other - Christmas and Manger: the distance between them is approximately three fathoms; both these places are in one cave. The cave is decorated with mosaics and beautifully paved. Everything is hollowed out under the church, and the relics of the saints lie here.”

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Bethlehem, Manger Square, Church of the Nativity

First mention of the cave

The canonical texts do not speak directly about the cave. The evangelists Luke (Luke 2:4-7) and Matthew (Matthew 2:1-11) report that Christ was born in Bethlehem, but none of them mentions the cave, only Luke indirectly points to it, saying that the Mother of God “She laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7).

The oldest direct written evidence that has probably reached us about the cave as the place of the Nativity belongs to St. Justin the Philosopher.

In the essay “Dialogue with Tryphon the Jew,” written in 150-155, he claims that the Holy Family found shelter in a cave near Bethlehem.

The cave as the site of the Nativity is mentioned many times in the apocryphal Proto-Gospel of James (chapters 18-21), presumably written around 150 AD.

Origen visited Bethlehem almost a century before the construction of the Basilica of the Nativity, around 238. Later, in Against Celsus, written around 247, he mentions a cave in Bethlehem, which the locals believed to be the site of the Nativity of Christ.

Origin of the cave

What kind of cave it was and who it belonged to is unknown. Most likely it was of natural origin, and later it was adapted for household needs, including keeping pets.

In Bethlehem, many old buildings are built over caves in the limestone cliffs. Often houses located on a slope have a cave on their first floor, the entrance to which is at street level.

This floor was used as a stable, and the family lived on the second floor.

Many of these rooms have stone feeding troughs or mangers carved into the rock, as well as iron rings so that animals can be tied up at night.

These caves are exactly the same as the Nativity Grotto; they were used to keep animals until the mid-20th century.

Perhaps Christ was born in one of these caves.

The Basilica of the Nativity is one of the oldest churches in the world. The building was built over a cave in which, according to legend, Jesus of Nazareth was born, and therefore this place is considered sacred for Christians.

The structure is actually a combination of two churches, with the actual birthplace of Jesus located below - in the Cave of the Nativity.

The birth of Jesus is told in the Gospel of Matthew and Luke. Matthew says that Mary and Joseph were from Bethlehem and then moved to Nazareth because of Herod's order to kill all the infants. And Luke indicates that Mary and Joseph were from Nazareth, and Jesus was born in Bethlehem while they were in town for a special occasion. Theologians view the two stories as contradictory, but Matthew is considered the more reliable source. However, in both versions, Jesus was born in Bethlehem and grew up in Nazareth.

Star of Bethlehem and altar

Roman Catholics have a unique Altar of Awe in the “Jesus manger”. Catholics also place a silver star under the Altar of the Nativity. Both Catholics and Armenians have the right to own the nave.

1. Nativity Square; 2. Gate of humility; 3. Nave; 4. High altar and Greek Orthodox basilica (iconostasis); 5. Stairs to the cave; 6. Caves of the Nativity of Christ; 7. Franciscan monastery; 8. Franciscan courtyard; 9. Cave of St. Jerome; 10. Church of St. Catherine; 11. Greek Orthodox monastery; 12. Greek Orthodox court; 13. Armenian courtyard; 14. Armenian monastery.

Aerial view of the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

The Basilica of the Nativity is the oldest still functioning church in the Holy Land, where, according to legend, Jesus Christ was born. Its construction began in 326 AD. The current church was built during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian. In 529, the basilica was badly damaged during the Samaritan uprising. The Patriarch of Jerusalem sent Saint Sava to help Justinian, and the architect sent by the emperor demolished the church and built the one that still stands today.

Memorial plaque

Today the church is under the control of three Christian denominations - the Armenian Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church.

Black and white photo of an old church.

The powerful outer walls of the church, similar to the walls of a fortress, speak of its long and difficult history. For centuries, the temple was one of those places for which people constantly fought. It was conquered and defended by a variety of armies, including Muslims and Crusaders. The facade of the Basilica of the Nativity is surrounded by the high walls of three monasteries: Franciscan on the northeast side, Greek Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox on the southeast.

The entrance to the famous basilica is quite nondescript

Aerial view of the basilica grounds

3D model of the basilica

The main building of the basilica was erected by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. It is designed in the form of a typical Roman basilica, with five rows (formed by Corinthian columns) and an apse in the eastern part, where the sanctuary is located. The basilica has a rectangular shape, its length is 53.9 meters, the nave is 26.2 meters wide, and the transept is 35.82 m. Entering the church, you can see four rows of columns - 44 in total - 6 meters high, made of red stone.

Cross on the roof of the basilica

View of Yaselnaya Square

The Manger Square, a large paved courtyard in front of the basilica, is where residents gather on Christmas Eve to sing carols in anticipation of the midnight service.

The basilica can be entered through a very low door called the “door of humility.” This is a very small rectangular entrance created during the Ottoman Empire to prevent looters from bringing carts into the church, and to ensure that even the most respectable and important visitors would dismount to get inside. The door opening was noticeably reduced in size from the previous door, the pointed arch of which can still be seen at the top.

View through the Door of Humility

Security room - the first room in the basilica

Columns of the basilica

On thirty of the 44 columns you can see Crusader paintings of saints, the Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus, although due to time and lighting conditions they are quite difficult to see.

Priest between the columns of the basilica. The columns are made of pink polished limestone, most of them have been standing since the 4th century, from the time of the Constantinian Basilica.

Nave and ceiling

The wide nave remains from the time of Justinian, and the roof dates back to the 15th century and was restored in the 19th century. Now this roof is rotten, which threatens the integrity of the entire building. Some of the beams have been preserved since the 15th century, and holes in the wood allow dirty water to flow directly onto the priceless frescoes and mosaics. This problem only worsened over the years, but the clergy of the Greek and Armenian Orthodox churches, as well as the Franciscan order of the Roman Catholic Church, clashed with each other for many decades and could not come to a common plan of action.

The Armenian Church owns the northern transept and the altar located there. They also sometimes use the Greek Orthodox Church's altar and caves. On the north side of the altar there is an Armenian altar and the Three Wise Men, and in the north apse there is also an Armenian altar of the Virgin Mary.

Iconostases

Iconostasis is a wall with icons and religious paintings that separates the nave from the sanctuary of the church. An iconostasis is also called a shelf for icons, which can be placed anywhere. The iconostasis evolved from the Byzantine tyabla to the 15th century. The main building of the basilica, including the naves, rows, katholikon (choir and sanctuary), south transept and Altar of the Nativity are under the ownership of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Entrance to the caves under the church, which are its main attraction. You can enter the cave via the stairs near the altar. It was here, according to legend, that Jesus Christ was born.

Northern staircase to the caves.

According to Luke 2:7: Mary “laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the monastery.” The manger is located in the northern part of the caves, and opposite them is the altar of the Magi, who came to Bethlehem with gifts from the East after they saw the guiding star.

The Gospel does not mention the cave, but less than a century later Justin Martyr and the Proto-Gospel of James reported that Jesus was born in the cave. This makes sense since many houses in the area are still built in front of the caves. The caves were used for storing things and as stables for horses - hence the manger. At the end of the cave you can see a door leading to the chapels, the key to which is kept by the Franciscans.

Cave wall. All other furnishings date from the period after the 1869 fire, with the exception of the bronze gate to the north and the southern entrance to the caves, which date from the 6th century.

The cave is illuminated by 51 lamps, 19 of which belong to Catholics.

Southern staircase to the cave.

The cave has a rectangular shape: its length is 12.3 meters and its width is 3.15 meters.

Altar over the Star of Bethlehem.

Lower part of the altar

Jesus Christ was born around 12-4 BC in a city (in Hebrew the name sounds like Beit Lehem) 8 km away. south of Jerusalem. Beit Lechem means "House of Bread" in Hebrew. Bethlehem is one of the oldest cities in the world. It was founded around the 17th century BC. First, Canaanites lived in Bethlehem, and then Jews. Now the city is populated predominantly by Palestinian Arabs.

Most Christians believe in the virgin birth of Jesus (by the Holy Spirit). So, in Orthodoxy it is said: “God will pass through your side” - as if through closed doors. The exact date of Jesus' birth is difficult to determine. The earliest is usually called 12 BC. e. (Halley's comet, which passed this year, could be the prototype of the Star of Bethlehem), and the latest - 4 BC. e. (year of death of King Herod). Bethlehem is home to one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. The birthday of Jesus is one of the main Christian holidays.

Immediately after his birth, Jesus was taken by his parents to Egypt. He spent very little time there. Jesus returned to his homeland while still an infant. Jesus lived most of his life in the city of Nazareth (Nazareth), which is 80 km away. north of Jerusalem.

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